Tutorial: Keyring Pouch

I have a quick little project to share with you today. These little keyring pouches are super cute and a great way to use up some fabric scraps. The finished size is approximately 3 1/4" L x 2" W x 1" D - the perfect size for a tube of lip balm and with Christmas just around the corner why not whip up a few as gifts.

All the hardware was provided by K & C Supplies. Make sure to check them out - they have an awesome range of zips, buttons, charms and more.

Supplies:

- 2 pieces of exterior fabric, 5" x 3"

- 2 pieces of lining fabric, 5" x 3"

- 2 pieces of medium weight interfacing, 5" x 2.5"

- 2 pieces of coordinating fabric for the tabs, 2" x 1.5"

- 9" zip

- swivel lobster clasp

- zip charm (optional)

Iron the interfacing onto your 2 pieces of exterior fabric, there will be 1/2" uncovered at the bottom of your pieces.

We're going to start by making the tabs for our pouch. 

Take one of the 2" x 1.5" pieces of fabric and fold it in half lengthwise, right sides together. Sew down the side with a 1/4" seam.

Turn right side out and press flat with the seam centered at the back. Repeat to make the other tab. Set aside.

Place one of your exterior pieces right side up, if your fabric has a directional print, make sure that it's going in the direction that you want it to. The 1/2" without interfacing should be at the bottom (not being attached to the zip).

Lay your zipper on top, right side down and with the zipper pull to the left.

Place one of your lining pieces on top, right side down and aligning all edges. Pin if desired.

Sew together using your zipper foot. I like to use the edge of my zipper foot as a guide.

Flip pieces so that they are wrong sides together and press away from the zipper teeth.

Place your remaining exterior piece of fabric right side up (again if your using a directional print, make sure that it's going the right way). Lay your zip on top face down, this time with the zipper pull to the right. Place your last lining piece right side down. Line up the edges and sew as before.

Flip wrong sides together and press.

Top stitch next to the zipper on each side.

Match up the raw edges of the lining and exterior fabric. Pin in place.

Sew down each long edge with a 1/4" seam.

Center each seam over the zipper teeth and press open.

Take one of the fabric tabs that we made earlier and fold it in half. Place it in the bottom end of your pouch and line up the raw edges. Center it over the zipper and hand baste in place - make sure to only sew through the zipper tape and the tab.

Open up your zipper about half way.

Thread the lobster swivel clasp onto your remaining fabric tab. Fold in half and place it in the top of your pouch. Repeat as you did for the previous side. You could also sew a bar tack over the zipper teeth at the open zip end, to keep it from moving too much when we sew the ends closed.

Gently turn the lining right side out. Sew down the two short ends with a 1/4" seam (I like to go over the zipper 2 or 3 times to secure it). Trim off the ends of your zipper roughly 1/2" from your seam and snip off any loose threads. 

Now we're going to box the corners.

Start by opening out your corner. Center your stitch line on top of the folded edge and fold the seam away from the zip, making a triangle.

Measure 1/2" in from the corner and rule a line at right angles to the stitch line. Repeat for all corners and sew along the marked lines (don't forget to secure your stitches at both ends).

Trim off the corners 1/4" away from stitching line, use pinking shears if you have them.

Turn right side out through the zip and gently poke out corners.

You're done! Attach it to your keys, bag, or belt loop and you're good to go.

Optional: I added a little charm to my zip pull for some extra bling.

Now make a bunch more!

They're also a great idea for school children - I'm going to make one for R to clip to the inside of his bag for when he needs to take money to school.

If you make a Keyring Pouch using this tutorial, I'd love for you to share some photos in the Monkey Makes Three Flickr group or leave me a link in the comments.